LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme User manual

How To Use This Manual
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
How To Use This Manual
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Table of Contents
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Table of Contents
Foreword 4
Precautions 6
1. Introduction 7
1.1. What Your LaCie Drive Can Do 7
2. Your LaCie Drive 8
2.1. Minimum System Requirements 8
2.2. Package Contents And Views Of The Drive 9
2.2.1. Package Contents 9
2.2.2. Views Of The Drive 10
2.3. Cables And Connectors 12
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive 13
3.1. Connecting The Power Supply 14
3.1.1. Turning The LaCie Bigger Disk On And Off 15
3.2. Connecting The Interface Cable 16
3.2.1. Mac Users 16
3.2.2. Windows Users 21
3.3 Installing Multiple Devices 25
3.3.1. FireWire 25
3.3.2. Connecting Digital Video Cameras To The Drive 26
3.4. Disconnecting Your LaCie Drive 27
3.5. Switching Interfaces 28
3.6. Attaching The Drive Stand 29
4. Using Your LaCie Drive 30
4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Drive 31
4.1.1. Mac Users 31
4.1.2. Windows Users 33
4.2. Creating RAID 0 Arrays 35
4.2.1. Creating RAID 0 Arrays Using Apple’s Disc Utility 36

Table of Contents
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
5. Tech Tips 39
5.1. File System Formats 39
5.1.1. Mac Users 39
5.1.2. Windows Users 40
5.2. Available Storage Capacity 41
5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers 41
5.3.1. FireWire 800 Ports And Performance 42
6. FireWire Questions & Answers 43
7. Troubleshooting 45
7.1. Mac Users 46
7.2. Windows Users 50
8. Contacting Customer Support 53
9. Warranty 53
Glossary 56

Foreword
page 4
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Copyrights
Copyright © 2004 LaCie. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written consent of LaCie.
Trademarks
Apple, Mac, Macintosh and FireWire are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. Microsoft, Windows 98, Windows
98 SE, Windows 2000, Windows Millennium Edition and Windows XP are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Sony and iLink are registered trademarks of Sony Electronics. Other trademarks mentioned in this manual are the property of
their respective owners.
Changes
The material in this document is for information only and subject to change without notice. While reasonable efforts have
been made in the preparation of this document to assure its accuracy, LaCie assumes no liability resulting from errors or omis-
sions in this document, or from the use of the information contained herein. LaCie reserves the right to make changes or revi-
sions in the product design or the product manual without reservation and without obligation to notify any person of such
revisions and changes.
FCC Statement:
Caution! Modifications not authorized by the manufacturer may void the user’s authority to operate this device.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the
equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses,
and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communica-
tions. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful
interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of
the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential instal-
lation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interfer-
ence will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television recep-
tion, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try and correct the interference
by one or more of the following measures:
Tested To Comply
With FCC standards
FOR HOME OR OFFICE USE
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme

Foreword
page 5
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canada Compliance Statement
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Manufacturer’s Declaration for CE Certification
We, LaCie, solemnly declare that this product conforms to the following European standards:
Class B EN60950, EN55022, EN50082-1, EN61000-3-2
With reference to the following conditions:
73/23/EEC Low Voltage Directive
89/336/EEC EMC Directive

Precautions
page 6
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Health And Safety Precautions
Only qualified persons are authorized to carry out maintenance on this device.
• Read this User's Guide carefully, and follow the correct procedure when setting up the device.
• Do not open your hard drive or attempt to disassemble or modify it. Never insert any metallic object into the drive to avoid
any risk of electrical shock, fire, short-circuiting or dangerous emissions. Your hard drive contains no user-serviceable parts. If
it appears to be malfunctioning, have it inspected by a qualified LaCie Technical Support representative.
• Never expose your device to rain, or use it near water, or in damp or wet conditions. Never place objects containing liq-
uids on the drive, as they may spill into its openings. Doing so increases the risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting, fire or
personal injury.
General Use Precautions:
• Do not expose the hard drive to temperatures outside the range of 5° C to 45° C (41° F to 104° F). Doing so may damage
the drive or disfigure its casing. Avoid placing your drive near a source of heat or exposing it to sunlight (even through a win-
dow). Inversely, placing your drive in an environment that is too cold or humid may damage the unit.
• Always unplug the hard drive from the electrical outlet if there is a risk of lightning or if it will be unused for an extended
period of time. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of electrical shock, short-circuiting or fire.
• Use only the power supply shipped with the device.
• Do not use the hard drive near other electrical appliances such as televisions, radios or speakers. Doing so may cause inter-
ference which will adversely affect the operation of the other products.
• Do not place the drive near sources of magnetic interference, such as computer displays, televisions or speakers. Magnetic
interference can affect the operation and stability of your hard drive.
• Do not place heavy objects on top of the drive or use excessive force on it.
• Never use excessive force on your drive. If you detect a problem, consult the Troubleshooting section in this manual.
• Protect your hard drive from excessive exposure to dust during use or storage. Dust can build up inside the device, increas-
ing the risk of damage or malfunction.
• Never use benzene, paint thinners, detergent or other chemical products to clean the outside of the drive. Such products will
disfigure and discolor the casing. Instead, use a soft, dry cloth to wipe the device.
Caution! The drive's warranty may be void as a result of the failure to respect the precautions listed above.

1. Introduction
page 7
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
1. Introduction
Thank you for the purchase of your new LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme! This
hard drive system combines compatibility, convenience and a generous
storage capacity to help you manage your data. Your LaCie external hard
drive system is cross-platform, which enables you to use it on both Macs
and PCs; it can be connected via FireWire 800, FireWire or iLink/DV
interfaces; and you can customize the format and partitions of your LaCie
drive to match your exact needs.
LaCie’s Hard Drive is ideally suited for a wide range of high-end, high-
traffic environments, including:
• Servers
• Workstations
• Audio/Video Editing
• Database Management
Engineered to fit seamlessly in to any work environment, the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme can be stood vertically on the LaCie
Drive Stand (included), placed in the LaCie Desk Rack (sold separately) or incorporated into standard 19” computer
equipment racks with the LaCie Rackmount Kit (sold separately).
1.1. What Your LaCie Drive Can Do
• Daisy-chain digital video cameras directly to the drive.
• Connects to all of the FireWire standard interfaces.
• Back up your computers’ internal hard drive.
• Store and exchange data between several computers.

2. Your LaCie Drive
page 8
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
2. Your LaCie Drive
2.1. Minimum System Requirements
FireWire 800
Hardware Requirements for FireWire 800:
• Pentium III or higher compatible processor, with a FireWire
800/IEEE 1394b interface card
• 128MB RAM or higher
System Requirements for FireWire 800:
• Windows 2000 (with Service Pack 4 installed) and
Windows XP (with Service Pack 1 installed)
FireWire/IEEE 1394/iLink
Hardware Requirements for FireWire 400:
• Pentium II or higher -compatible processor, with a
FireWire/IEEE 1394/iLink interface card (SBP-2 compatible)
that supports mass storage devices.
• 64MB RAM or greater
System Requirements for FireWire 400:
• Windows 2000 and Windows XP
FireWire 800
Hardware Requirements for FireWire 800:
• G4/G5 with a FireWire 800/IEEE 1394b interface
card
System Requirements for FireWire 800:
• OS 10.2.4 or higher
FireWire
Hardware Requirements for FireWire 400:
• G3 or greater, with FireWire 400/IEEE 1394a interface
card
System Requirements for FireWire 400:
• OS 9.x (Apple FireWire support 2.3.3 and greater) and
10.x
Windows Users
Mac Users

2.2. Package Contents and Views of the Drive
2.2.1. Package Contents
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme and Drive Stand kit
External power supply
FireWire 800 9-to-9-pin cable
FireWire 400 6-to-6-pin cable
iLink/DV 6-to-4-pin cable
LaCie Storage Utilities CD-ROM
Important Info: Please keep your box. In the event that the drive should need to be repaired or serviced, it must
be returned in its original packaging.
2. Your LaCie Drive
page 9
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
234
56

2. Your LaCie Drive
page 10
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
2.2.2. Views of the Drive
2.2.2.1. Front View
1
1Power LED /Activity LED
The LED remains lit to show that the drive is on, and blinks to indicate drive activity.

2. Your LaCie Drive
page 11
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Power Supply Connector - This is where you plug in the AC adapter supplied with the drive. See section
3.1. Connecting The Power Supply for more information.
On/Auto/Off Switch - This is where you turn the drive on or off. See section 3.1.1. Turning The LaCie Bigger Disk On
And Offfor more information.
Ventilation Outlet - These holes help to keep your drive cool during operation. Be sure not to block these openings
when using your drive.
Rackmount Grooves - These grooves are used for mounting the drive in the Desk Rack kit (sold separately) or placing
your drive in standard 19” computer equipment racks using the LaCie Rackmount Kit (sold separately).
Serial Number Sticker - This is where you will find your LaCie drive's serial number. Write down the serial number
and keep it in a safe place, because you will need to provide the number in the event you have to call LaCie Technical
Support for any reason in regards to the drive’s performance. The serial number would also come in handy if your
drive is lost or stolen.
FireWire 800 Ports - This is where you plug in the FireWire 800 cable furnished with the drive. See section
3.2. Connecting the Interface Cable for more information.
FireWire 400 Port - This is where you plug in the FireWire 400 or iLink/DV cables furnished with the drive. See
section 3.2. Connecting the Interface Cable for more information.
Lock Slot - This slot is used to connect an anti-theft system, such as the LaCie Security Lock, for maximum protection.
Refer to your anti-theft system documentation for details on how to connect the lock.
Drive Stand Groove - This groove is used for attaching the LaCie Drive Stand, which is included with your drive. See
section 3.6. Attaching The Drive Stand for more information.
on
on
auto
auto
off
off
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
2.2.2.2. Back View
8
9
123
4
5
6
87
4
9

2.3. Cables and Connectors
2.3.1. FireWire
FireWire 400, also known as IEEE 1394, is a high-speed serial input/output
technology for connecting peripheral devices to a computer or to each other, and
FireWire 800 is the implementation of the new IEEE 1394b standard.
Pushing the speed barrier to new limits, FireWire 800 offers increased bandwidth
and extended cabling distance between devices. FireWire 800 is ideal for
bandwidth-intensive applications, such as audio, video and graphics. Benefits of
FireWire 800 include:
• Resourceful architecture: FireWire 800 reduces delays in arbitration and signal
distortion, and increases throughput.
• Backwards compatibility: adapter cables allow FireWire 400 devices to operate
under the FireWire 800 port.
FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 also share the following features:
• Hot-pluggable: devices can be added and removed while the bus is active.
• Isochronous data delivery: no dropped frames – FireWire supports real-time data
delivery.
• Flexible: up to 63 devices can be connected on a single bus.
Please see 6.FireWire Questions And Answers for a more detailed discussion of
FireWire’s uses and capabilities.
FireWire Cables
There are two categories of FireWire cables on the market: FireWire 800 cables, which feature the 9-to-9-pin, 9-to-6-pin,
and 9-to-4-pin cables; and the original FireWire cables which feature the 6-to-6-pin and 6-to-4-pin cables.
2. Your LaCie Drive
page 12
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
DV icon
FireWire icon
iLink icon
9-to-9-pin cable: Connects FireWire 800 devices to FireWire 800 ports.
6-to-6-pin cable: Connects FireWire 400 devices to FireWire 400 ports.
6-to-4-pin cable: Connects FireWire 400 devices to iLink/DV ports.
FireWire Icons
Theses icons will help you easily
identify the FireWire interface. They
appear on FireWire cables, and
next to the FireWire port connectors
on certain computers.

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 13
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
Getting your LaCie drive installed and connected is very simple; essentially there are two steps:
1) connect the power supply to the drive and to an outlet
2) connecting an interface cable to the drive and to your computer.
Thanks to its support of three different interfaces and its support of both the Mac and Windows
operating system, the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme gives you several different connectivity options. These
steps are divided into sections by operating system (Mac or Windows) and the type of interface cable
(FireWire 800, FireWire 400 and iLink).
This chapter also has helpful information about connecting digital video cameras to the LaCie drive,
connecting multiple devices and special steps that need to be followed when disconnecting the drive or
switching between the different interfaces.
To get started, go to section 3.1. Connecting The Power Supply.

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 14
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
3.1. Connecting the Power Supply
There are two cables that are supplied with
the power supply: one cable (A) connects to
the LaCie drive; and the other cable (B)
connects to a power outlet, such as a wall
outlet or a surge protector.
Connect Cable A to your LaCie Drive.
Connect Cable B to the Power Supply brick.
Connect Cable B to a surge protector or wall outlet.
You are now ready to connect the interface cable to your drive and to your computer.
Caution!
•Only use the AC adapter supplied with your specific LaCie drive. Do not use a power supply from another
LaCie drive or another manufacturer. Using any other power cable or power supply may cause damage to the
device and void your warranty.
•Always remove the AC adapter before transporting your LaCie drive. Failure to remove the adapter may result
in damage to your drive and will void your warranty.
Tech Note: You may use your LaCie drive when in a foreign country, thanks to its autoswitching 100-240 Volt
power supply. To be able to use this feature, you may need to purchase an appropriate adapter or cord. Consult
LaCie Technical Support for assistance in choosing the right adapter. LaCie accepts no responsibility for any
damage to the drive resulting from the use of an inappropriate adapter. Using an adapter other than one
authorized by LaCie will void your warranty.
A
B
Power Supply brick
Step 2)
1
2
3

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 15
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
3.1.1. Turning The LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme On And Off
After connecting the power supply to your LaCie Bigger
Disk, there are three options for powering your drive on
and off. To manually power the drive on and/or off,
move the Power Switch to the On or Off position. To utilize
the Auto power feature, set the Power Swith in the middle,
at the Auto position.
Caution! Do not turn the drive off when it is
reading or writing information! This may
damage your drive or corrupt data.
Tech Note: To utilize the Auto feature, your
drive must be connected to your computer with
a FireWire 400 or FireWire 800 cable.
Important Info: iLink/DV Users! If you will be
using the iLink or DV cable to connect your
drive to your computer, you will need to
manually turn the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme on
and off. iLink/DV does not support the Auto
feature.
Auto: This position allows the drive to be powered on and off with your computer. When the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme is
connected to your computer via the FireWire interface, the drive will power on and off when your computer is turned on or
off.
This feature also allows the drive to manage power consumption. If the system’s power save feature supports it, the LaCie
Bigger Disk Extreme will spin down during the power save mode. After the system comes out of power save, the drive will
take a few seconds to spin up to full power before it can be accessed.
On: This position turns the power to the drive on, and the drive will stay on unless the switch is moved to the Off position.
Off: This position turns the power to the drive off, and the drive will stay off unless the switch is moved to the On position or
the Auto position.
on
auto
off
Power Switch

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 16
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
3.2. Connecting The Interface Cable
There are two interface connectivity options when connecting your LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme to your computer: FireWire 800
and FireWire 400. The installation steps below follow the connectivity options for each of the specific interfaces, depending
on your operating system.
Important Info: Windows Users! Move to section 3.2.2. Windows Users to view installation steps for the
Windows OS.
3.2.1. Mac Users
These installation steps are separated by interface and Mac OS. To view the installation steps of the interface you plan on
using, click on the appropriate operating system and interface:
Mac OS 10.x – FireWire 800
Mac OS 10.x – FireWire 400
Mac OS 9.x – FireWire 400
Important Info: If you will be switching between interfaces, you must also follow the steps in section 3.5.
Switching Interfaces.
Tech Note:
• For information about connecting additional FireWire devices to the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme, please see
section 3.3. Installing Multiple Devices.
• If you will be using your LaCie drive in a cross-platform (Mac/Windows) environment, please see the following
sections for more information
4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie Drive - 4.1.1. Mac Users
5.1. File System Formats - 5.1.1. Mac Users

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 17
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Mac OS 10.x – FireWire 800
on
on
auto
auto
off
off
on
auto
off
Connect the 9-pin end of the FireWire 800 cable into the
FireWire 800 port on the back of the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme.
Connect the other end of the
9-pin FireWire 800 cable
into an available FireWire
800 port on your computer.
1
2
3
Computer models vary. Please consult your computer’s User’s Manual for the exact location of your interface.
Tech Note: For more information about FireWire, please
see sections:
• 2.3.1. FireWire
• 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers
• 6. FireWire Questions & Answers
Your drive should appear on your desktop. It will
take a few seconds for your computer to
recognize the drive and for it to appear on the
dektop.
Your LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme will now be
ready for use. You can also customize the
configuration of your hard drive system.
Please refer to the following sections for more
information:
• 4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie
Drive – 4.1.1. Mac Users
Mac OS Drive Icons
FireWire 800 Cable 9-pin end
FireWire 800 port

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 18
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Mac OS 10.x – FireWire 400
on
on
auto
auto
off
off
on
auto
off
Connect the 6-pin end of the FireWire 400 cable into the FireWire
400 port on the back of the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme.
Connect the other end of the
6-pin FireWire 400 cable
into an available FireWire
400 port on your computer.
1
2
3
Computer models vary. Please consult your computer’s User’s Manual for the exact location of your interface.
Tech Note: For more information about FireWire, please
see sections:
• 2.3.1. FireWire
• 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers
• 6. FireWire Questions & Answers.
Your LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme will now be
ready for use. You can also customize the
configuration of your hard drive system.
Please refer to the following sections for more
information:
• 4.1. Formatting And Partitioning Your LaCie
Drive – 4.1.1. Mac Users
Your drive should appear on your desktop. It
may take a few seconds for your computer to
recognize the drive and for it to appear on the
dektop.
Mac OS Drive Icons
FireWire 400 Cable 6-pin end
FireWire 400 port

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 19
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Mac OS 9.x – FireWire 400
To use your new LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme, first install the necessary driver software.
Silverlining Pro Installation
1) Insert the LaCie Storage Utilities CD in your computer’s internal CD/DVD drive.
2) Open the CD icon, double-click the Silverlining Software folder and double-
click on the Silverlining Installer.
3) The Silverlining Utilities screen appears. Click on Continue.
4) The About to Install screen appears. Read the following information and click
on Continue.
5) The License Agreement screen appears. Click on Agree.
6) The Installation screen appears.
7) Leave the installation setting at Easy Install unless you want to customize the
installation process.
8) Click on Install.
9) A message appears to confirm that the installation was successful.
10) Click on Restart to use your FireWire peripheral immediately.
Now you are ready to move to the next step, Connecting the Drive to the
Computer.

3. Installing Your LaCie Drive
page 20
LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme
User’s Manual
Mac OS 9.x – FireWire 400
on
on
auto
auto
off
off
on
auto
off
Connect the 6-pin end of the FireWire 400 cable into the FireWire
400 port on the back of the LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme.
Connect the other end of the 6-
pin FireWire 400 cable into an
available FireWire 400 port
on your computer.
1
2
3
Computer models vary. Please consult your computer’s User’s Manual for the exact location of your interface.
Tech Note: For more information about FireWire, please
see sections:
• 2.3.1. FireWire
• 5.3. Optimizing Data Transfers
• 6. FireWire Questions & Answers.
Your drive should appear on your desktop. It
may take a few seconds for your computer to
recognize the drive and for it to appear on the
dektop.
Your LaCie Bigger Disk Extreme will now be
ready for use. You can also customize the
configuration of your hard drive system.
Please refer to the the Silverlining Pro
documentation on the LaCie Storage Utilities CD-
ROM for more information.
Mac OS Drive Icons
FireWire 400 Cable 9-pin end
FireWire 400 port